An Australian MP has been forced to apologize to families of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 victims after he suggested Russia’s role in the crime should be overlooked to facilitate better international relations.
Liberal party backbencher Craig Kelly said he unreservedly apologized for his comments but claimed they had been taken out of context by political opponents.
He had been asked on Sky News Wednesday about criticism of US President Donald Trump by Perth man Anthony Maslin, whose three children died when the Boeing 777 was struck by a Russian-made BUK missile.
All 298 passengers and crew died in the attack, including 38 Australians.
Maslin was upset Trump did not take a strong line on MH17 during his meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday.
Trump did not mention the issue during his controversial post-meeting Press conference, despite the fact it was held the day before the fourth anniversary of the atrocity and issue had been raised by the G7 group of nations.
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Maslin accused Trump of lacking empathy with his fellow humans and trying to appease Putin.
“That passenger flight MH17 was shot out of the sky and 298 innocent people were murdered is an irrefutable fact.,’’ he said on Facebook.
“That the plane was hit by a Russian missile has been proven to be an irrefutable fact.
"That this killed our 3 beautiful children and their grandfather, and destroyed our life and many other lives in the process, is an irrefutable fact.
“That this happened 4 years ago today… is an irrefutable fact.
“That the man whose arse you’ve just been kissing did this, and continues to lie about it, is an irrefutable fact.”
Kelly acknowledged during Wednesday's Sky interview that any father who had lost three children would be devastated but added: "nothing's going to bring those three kids back".
“So what is best for the continued future of the world?’’ he said. “And it is best, in my opinion, that the leader of the USA and the leader of Russia at least have a good talking relationship.
“And if that means some of the things that Russia has gotten away with the in the past has to be slightly looked over, well, I’m sorry, that’s the price we that have to pay sometimes to have good relations going forward.”
The politician on Thursday “unreservedly apologized” for any distress he had caused but said it was disappointing to see some people had taken political advantage of his comments.
He told ABC radio he had the greatest of sympathy for everybody who had family and friends aboard the flight.
But he continued to argue that it would have been pointless for Trump to publicly harangue Putin at the Helsinki meeting about Russia’s role in the crime.
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